Automatic delivery-signal for mail-boxes.



F. W. AYER & M. L. ANDERSON.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY SIGNAL FOR MAIL BOXES.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 13' I915.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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INVEN7DRS MLA 1 rayon WITNESS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIRED W. AYEB AND MARTIN L. ANDERSON, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY-SIGNAL FOR MAIL-BOXES.

Application filed November 13, 1915.

To all whom it may concem Be it known that we, FRED WYLDER AYER and MARTIN LUDVIG ANnnnsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Delivery- Signals for Mail-Boxes; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in a way or means of giving an alarm or signal upon the delivery of mail by postal carrier, the object of the invention being to produce an automatic signal or alarm which will be sounded each time that mail is delivered into the mail box, which signal or alarm continues during all the time that the cover of the mail box is open while the carrier is placing the mail in the box.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fragmentary portion of a building showing the mail box in position thereon and its connection with the signal or alarm. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a mail box showing the cover in open position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cover in closed position. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation. of a mail box showing a modified form of structure for holding the signal button.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a mail box which may be of any desired form or structure and of any desired material, such mail box being provided with a usual mail inlet 2 normally covered by the hinged cover 3. In our improved invention, this cover 3 is hinged on a pin 4 and is provided with a strong spring 5 of desired material, the ac- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 61,351.

tion of the spring 5 being to throw the cover 3 open whenever it is released from closed position. The said cover 3 is normally held in closed position over the inlet 2 by means of a spring clip 6 which has a detent 7 normally engaging a spring catch 8 on the cover 3. This form of catch for the cover 3 may be modified at will and we reserve the right to use any desired form of holding means to keep the cover closed which we may find desirable in practice. On the top of the back portion of the box 1, we provide a bracket 9 carrying a signal button 10 adapted to make connections between two wires 11 and 12 in the usual manner, which wires 11 and 12 are connected with the door bell wires 13 and 14 which connect with the source of electrical energy 15 and the wire leading to the alarm bell 16 which may be positioned at any desired point in the building.

When the postal carrier calls to deliver the mail, he presses the clip 6 which releases the detent 7 from the catch 8, whereupon the action of the spring 5 throws the cover 3 open and exposes the inlet 2. When the cover 3 is thrown open it engages the push button 10 making a connection from the wire 11, wire 12, wire 13, electric battery 15, signal 16, wire 14, back to the wire 11, thus completing the electrical circuit and sounding the alarm 16. This sounding of the alarm continues as long as the cover is open and after the carrier has placed the mail in the box, he closes the cover 3 which disengages it from the button 10 and the sounding of the alarm ceases.

The above structure shows one form of the invention. In Fig. 5 we have shown another form. In this latter form instead of having the bracket 9, we provide a bracket 9 having an upwardly extending clip 9 which may be shaped to receive papers or other bulky mail which cannot go into the box 1 The push button 10 is then carried by this bracket 9*. The balance of the structure and the operation thereof being substantially the same as illustrated and de scribed above. If found desirable, we will arrange the contact between the cover 3 and the button 10 so that instead of giving one long signal, there may be given an intermittent and distinct number of signals to especially indicate that it is the mail delivery signal which is being sounded.

We wish it distinctly understood that We do not make any especial claim to the use of the mail box of this particular structure, our claim being made With especial relation to the automatic sounding of the alarm upon the delivery of the mail.

From the foregoing description it Will be readily seen that We have produced such a device as substantially fulfils the object of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention What cover when it is released from said holding means to throw it into engagement With said button.

In testimony whereof, We afiix our signatures.

FRED W. AYER. MARTIN L. ANDERSUN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

